Safety razor with blade retaining means on the razor cap and blade adjusting means



July 7, 1959 J E|HNER 2,893,119 SAFETY RAZOR WITH BLADE RETAINING MEANS ON THE RAZOR CAP AND BLADE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Sept. 25. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH EICH NER ATTORNEY July 7, 1959 J EICHNER 2,893,119 SAFETY RAZOR WITH BLADE RETAINING MEANS ON THE RAZOR CAP AND BLADE ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.7

1 III/I 1 l-l l I I l I A I I 1 b I B ATTORNEY United States Patent SAFETY RAZOR WITH BLADE RETAINING lVIEANS ON THE RAZOR CAP AND BLADE ADJUSTING lVIEANS Joseph 'Eichner, West Caldwell, NJ.

Application September 25, 1956,- -Serial No. 611,902

4'Claims. (Cl. 30-54) The present invention relates to safety razors and relates more particularly to a razor of the straight type employing a two-edged flexible wafer blade.

In razors of this general type as heretofore proposed as Well as with the well known safety razor, the blade is held between a clamping member and guard having a series of spaced apart teeth. The blade edge is held firmly between the clamping member and the guard. The edges of the blade are, however, held in spaced relation to the teeth of the guard. The entire shaving edges of the blade are thus presented for the shaving operation. This arrangement of blade and guard is considered to be satisfactory with the regular type of safety razor, but has not been found desirable when the structure follows the general form of a straight razor such as herein shown and described.

It has been found that when using a two-edged flexible blade if the cutting edge of the blade is held in spaced relation to the guard teeth, the shaving operation is often attended by injury due to accidental cutting of the skin. This is due to the fact that in the handling of a straight safety razor of this type the blade is manipulated by means of a hand piece extending from one end of the blade. The required control, to avoid injury, is, therefore, more difficult to attain than with the conventional well known type of safety razor where the hand piece is located intermediate the ends of the blade.

In accordance with the present invention a straight type of razor is provided which may be handled for shaving at any required position relative to the skin without danger of accidental injury.

. In accomplishing the above a structure is employed including a fixed guard plate having a serrated or toothed edge to receive the cutting edge of a flexible blade and a clamping or presser member for flexing the blade to bring the cutting edge into contact with the teeth of the guard plate, leaving the space between the teeth to provide the shaving sections of the cutting edge of the blade.

With this arrangement the shaving operation takes place only between the teeth, thus any awkward or unskilled handling of the razor cannot result in injury. In the conventional type of razor, where the blade edge is spaced from the guard or guide edge, any slight endwise movement of the blade may cut into the skin or if, when shaving the razor is not held at the proper angle, injury may result, especially when the blade is moved over an uneven surface as slight deformations of the surfacebeing shaved.

As stated above, a razor constructed in accordance with the present invention provides a plurality of shaving sections separated by sections which are not in use.

In accordance with the present invention the arrangement of the several parts is such as to make practical and convenient the readjustment of the parts to present a new series of shaving sections after one series has been used. I

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a so-called straight safety razor which may be handled in the manner of the ordinary straight razor but without the hazard of accidental injury.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor wherein one series of shaving sections may be used for one shaving operation and another series of shaving sections employed for another shaving operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety razor wherein the blade edge is in close relation to surfaces of the teeth of a guard member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified construction with a minimum number of parts for the quick and convenient replacement of a razor blade.

Other objects and advantages resulting from the novel constructional features of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

The inventionwill be more clearly understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a razor constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the separate parts of the razor shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the several parts taken on line III--III in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled parts taken on line IIIIII in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view on line V-V in Fig. 1;.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified construction of the razor shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the razor head showing a presser plate in one position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and showing the presser plate in a different position;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line IXIX in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line X-X in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional fragmentary view of the pressure plate and guard member in position with respect to a blade; and,

Fig. 12 is a view taken on line XII--XII in Fig. 9.

As shown, a razor constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a guard member 20 at one end of a hand piece 21 and a pressure or clamping member 22. The guard is of oblong form preferably of metal and arcuate in transverse cross section. Extending from one end of the guard member and integral therewith is an extended portion or strip 23. Secured to this strip are oppositely disposed grip members 24 to form the hand piece 21.

Each side edge of the guard member is provided with a plurality of teeth 25 in selected spaced apart relation. It has been found that satisfactory results are obtained by using teeth about one sixteenth of an inch wide and in spacing the teeth about one sixteenth of an inch apart for an average size razor employing what may be termed a standard flexible safety razor blade.

Intermediate the rows of teeth 25 the guard member is provided with a longitudinal slot 26. The pressure or clamping member 22 is preferably formed from a single strip of metal but may be formed by molding or otherwise. As shown this member is folded at 27 to provide two contact or pressure members 28 and 29. Each of siad members consists of an arcuate plate 31 extending laterally from a spring arm 32. These spring arms or tension members are, as shown, secured together at their joined end portions 27 and spaced apart at their free ends which carry the contact members 28 and 29. Intermediate the ends of each spring arm is a bead 33 extending the length of each arm to provide what may be termed a snap-catch 30.

A flexible safety razor blade 34 of any well known make is positioned with the spring arms 32 disposed in the slot 35 of the blade whichis of a standard length. The spring arms are of a length slightly less than the length of th'e'slot to permit the passage of the arms but to prevent relative 'endwise movement of the blade. The spring arms are then passed through'slot 26 of the guard member until edges of the slot 26 engage beads 33. Pressure is then exerted to force the beads through the slot. Since-each bead is ona spring arm, the arms will be brought together to move the beads for passage through slot 26. The spring arms of the snap-catch 30 will then separate, causing the beads to lock the clamping member 22 in position with edges 36 and 37 of the pressure members 28 and 29, respectively, in firm contact with surface 38 of'blade 34. When so positioned, the several parts are in fixed or locked relation and the blade edge is pressed into firm contact with surfaces 39 of teeth 25. Thus, the blade is held to provide a series of usable cutting edges by reason of the spaces between the teeth. Each tooth is formed with a rounded edge surface 41' for contact with the surface to be shaved.

As will be evident, when the parts are assembled as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the contact relation between the clamping member 22 and the blade 34 is confined to the engagement between the edges 36 and 37 of the clamping member and the surface of the blade along a line in spaced relation to the cutting edge of the blade. This space may be varied in accordance with the contour of the contact members 23 and 29 and depending upon the character of the flexible blade employed.

When the blade edge is held in close contact with the surfaces of the teeth, the actual shaving edge of the blade is divided into a series of shaving sections determined by the number of spaces between the teeth. The teeth may be of a given width and the spaces between the teeth may be of a selected width. It has been found that satisfactory results are obtained with spaces the same width as that of the teeth.

As shown, in Fig. 2, for example, the several parts are separable. If'desired, the clamping member 22 may be connected to the guard member by a hinge 42. Thus, when the blade 34 is positioned on the guard member, the clamping member may be moved to insert the spring arms 33 through slot 35 of the blade and slot 26 of theguard member to be held by the beads 33.

The razor as above described provides a practical and convenient shaving tool which may be used with safety, since the blade edge in service resides in the edges exposed between the teeth.

In order to make possible and practical. the use of the entire blade edges'the guard member 20 (see Figs. 7 to 12) is provided with a slot 43 having a length greater than the length of the spring arms 32. As pointed out above, the blade slot 35 provides a relatively tight fit with the ends of the spring arms 32. Thus, if the clamping member 22 is moved relative to the guard member 20, the blade will also be moved. Therefore, by making the slot 43 of a length equal to the spring arms plus the distance of a space between two teeth, an adjustment of the clamping member 22 will move the blade a distance equal to a space between two teeth.

As pointed out above, the spring arms 32 or snap catch 3%) by means of the beads 33 serves to hold the clamping member 22 under tension to press the blade edge into contact with the surfaces 39 of the teeth 25. With the structure as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, for example, the parts may be assembled with the clamping member 22 positioned with spring arms 32 in contact with one end 44 of slot 43. When in this position, a series of effective edges of the blade 34 are positioned for use by reason of the spaces between the teeth. When a new series of shaving edges is desired, the handle'21 is grasped and with the thumb the clamping member 22 is adjusted to move the spring members 32 into contact with the other end 45 of the slot 43. The blade which moves with the clamping member is thus shifted to position a new series of cutting edges in the spaces between the teeth. As stated, the sections of the blade not in use are in contact with the top surfaces of the teeth. Thus, when the razor is in operation, the teeth serve to press and raise the skin slightly as the hairs to be cut pass between the teeth.

Thus, reasonable pressure may be applied withoutdanger of injury. If desirable, although not found to be necessary in practice, the end of each tooth may have a raised surface or lip 46, Fig. ll. This lip may be of a height about equal to one-half the thickness of the blade and spaced from its edge so that no contact will occur between the blade edge and the lip when the blade is moved endwise. It will also be noted that owing to the bevel of the blade, its stu'face contact with the teeth is confined to the surface of the body of the blade and any sliding movement of the blade, as when changing the shaving sections, will in no way result in damage to the cutting edges.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the present invention provides a so-called straight safety razor which may be used with safety and comfort. Furthermore, by reason of the novel arrangement of the teeth in combina tion with the blade sections to-provide a series of spaced apart shaving sections, the movement of the razor during the shaving operation causes the skin to bulge slightly and be stretched to elevate the hair to give a closer shave than is ordinarily possible with this type of razor without the risk of damage to the skin. Although -ithas been found satisfactory to provide each space between two teeth of a width equal to the width of a tooth, this spacfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A safety razor comprising a guard member and a clamping member for holding a flexible razor blade, provided with a longitudinal slot, in contact with said guard member, said guard member having spaced apart teeth along opposite edges thereof and a longitudinal slot intermediate said opposite edges, said clamping member including a pair of spring arms for disposition in said slots, said spring arms connected together along adjacent edges and normally disposed with opposite edges in spaced relation, said clamping member having contact members integral therewith and projecting laterally from said opposite edges of said spring arms and pressed into close relation with said blade when said spring arms are positioned in said longitudinal slots and in tensional contacting relation with opposite surfaces of the longitudinal slot in said guard member, said spring arms having means for retaining the same in said slot, and the slot in said guard member being of greater length than the length of said spring arms to permit longitudinal movement of said clamping member to move said blade relative to said guard member and shift the cutting edge longitudinally to expose different portions of the length thereof between said teeth.

2. A safety razor comprising a guard member and a clamping member for holding a flexible razor blade, provided with a longitudinal slot, in contact with said guard member, said guard member having spaced apart teeth along opposite edges thereof and a longitudinal slot intermediate'said opposite edges and of greater length than the slot in said blade, said clamping member including a pair of spring arms for disposition in said slots, said spring arms fitting the slot in said blade and of lesser length than the length of the slot in said guard member, said spring arms connected together along adjacent edges and normally disposed with opposite edges in spaced relation, said clamping member having contact members integral with each of said opposite edges of said spring arms and pressed into close relation with said blade when said spring arms are positioned in said longitudinal slots and in tensional contacting relation with opposite surfaces of the longitudinal slot in said guard member, the slot in said guard member being of a length to permit longitudinal movement of said clamping member to shift the exposure of the cutting edge of the blade to different portions of the length thereof between said teeth and with permitted movement limited to a distance equal to the space between a pair of teeth of said guard member.

3. A safety razor comprising a guard member and a clamping member for holding a flexible razor blade, said guard member and blade each having a longitudinal slot and said blade adapted to be interposed between and in contact with said guard member and clamping member, said guard member having spaced apart teeth along opposite edges thereof and said longitudinal slot of said guard member being intermediate of said opposite edges, said clamping member comprising laterally extending pressure members and a pair of spring arms projecting from said pressure members for disposition in said slots of the blade and guard member, said spring arms connected together along adjacent edges and normally spread apart in direction of extension of said arms away from said connected edges and toward said pressure members, said arms providing means integral therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to pass through both of said slots to underlie the margin of said slot of the guard member with said spring arms pressed into close relation where passing through said slots and in tensional contacting relation with opposite surfaces of the longitudinal slot in said guard member and said projecting means holding the pressure members toward said guard member and compressing the blade between the guard member and clamping member.

4. A safety razor comprising a guard member and a clamping member for holding a flexible razor blade, said guard member and blade each having a longitudinal slot and said blade adapted to be interposed between and in contact with said guard member and clamping member, said guard member having spaced apart teeth along opposite edges thereof and said longitudinal slot of said guard member being intermediate of said opposite edges, said clamping member comprising laterally extending pressure members and a pair of spring arms projecting from said pressure members for disposition in said slots of the blade and guard member, said spring arms connected together along adjacent edges and normally spread apart in direction of extension of said arms away from said connected edges and toward said pressure members, said arms providing a longitudinal bead integral therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to pass through both of said slots to underlie the margin of said slot of the guard member with said spring arms pressed into close relation where passing through said slots and in tensional contacting relation with opposite surfaces of the longitudinal slot in said guard member and said bead holding the pressure members toward said guard member and compressing the blade between the guard member and clamping member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,910 Meehan Apr. 27, 1909 1,006,391 McCollom Oct. 17, 1911 1,044,906 Ohlsson Nov. 19, 1912 1,058,318 McMillan Apr. 18, 1913 1,409,999 Currie Mar. 21, 1922 1,739,280 Behrman Dec. 10, 1929 1,821,825 Zumwalt Sept. 1, 1931 1,975,757 Gray Oct. 2, 1934 1,991,275 Fry Feb. 12, 1935 1,991,289 Moses Feb. 12, 1935 2,234,440 Lewis Mar. 11, 1941 2,259,996 Brant Oct. 21, 1941 2,703,449 Haynes Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 132,086 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1919 899,893 France Sept. 4, 1944 

